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“There was no marriage!” Levi shouted. He controlled himself with an effort, his chest rising and falling rapidly beneath his worn work shirt. Abruptly, he said, “You want the truth? I did ask Elma to marry me. But not that night. And not for the reasons you think. If I could turn back the clock and change what happened, I would—but it’s not what you think.”

Hope’s throat hurt. “Thee said thee never asked her to marry thee.”

Levi closed the space between them, leaning his arms on top of the fence that enclosed his brother’s yard. “I said I didn’t go to be married to her that night.”

“Thee argue like a lawyer,” Hope said bitterly.

“Hope . . .” The fury had leached from Levi’s face, leaving only regret—and something like pity. “Hope, there are things you don’t know.”

“I know enough. I know thee to be false as a March thaw.” Hope stomped up to the fence, shaking with rage and frustration. “First thee said there was nothing between thee and Elma, nothing more than fellowship, and now thee say thee asked her to marry thee. Thee claim she never left with thee—but a month from now, will thee say otherwise?”

“I’ve never lied to you. I’ve only kept those secrets that weren’t mine to share.” Levi straightened, his eyes on hers. “If you want to know the truth, apply to your sister.”

Hope gawped at him. “Caty? Caty has no secrets from me.”

The idea of Caty—Caty!—keeping secrets was absurd. Caty didn’t have time for secrets; her every moment was occupied with the boardinghouse and the children and the millinery.

“Ask her.” Levi grasped her arm; Hope could feel his touch burning through the thick wool of her sleeve. “Ask her about Elma’s illness—her cramping of the stomach. Ask her why she wouldn’t let me go for the doctor.”

Hope stared down at his fingers. She drew in a long breath, saying, as steadily as she could, “Thee are hurting me.”

Levi dropped her arm, looking horrified. “I would never hurt you.”

“Is that what thee said to Elma?” Hope asked smartly, and turned away before the devil could seduce her further.

Chapter Fourteen

Elias Ring: At this time, when my wife was gone into the country, Levi and Elma were constantly together in private. I was alone and very lonesome and was induced to believe from their conduct that they were shortly to be married.

Defense: Were you not the friend and protector of Elma?

Elias Ring: Yes.

—From the testimony of Elias Ring at the trial of Levi Weeks

New York City

March 1, 1800

The devil made work for idle hands, that’s what Caty always told her daughters, but here she was, lurking by the door, waiting for Elias, even though there was dinner to be cooked and rooms to clean—because apparently she didn’t get her rooms clean enough, even if her hands were raw and calloused and her back hurt from the endless bending.

Maybe if Elias didn’t disappear goodness only knew where, maybe if he took on any of the work of the boardinghouse at all, people wouldn’t feel they had to bring their future wife’s servant to see their room properly cleaned.

Caty knew pride was a sin, but it hurt her all the same. She’d heard what people were saying about her establishment. Disorderly. Ill managed. It didn’t help that the front door still stuck. Couldn’t Elias even take the time to fix the door? She’d only been asking him for the past three months. But no. He was too busy pursuing businesses that came to nothing, too important to complete the homely tasks she begged him to take on. It was all too homely for him.

Caty was too homely for him.

Caty pushed that thought aside. She could hear Elias’s voice through the open top of the door, raised in greeting to someone—and not altogether steady. It was the distance that was slurring his words, she told herself, and retreated into their bedroom, just behind the door, so it wouldn’t look as though she was waiting for him, so she could come bustling out and pretend surprise.

So strange to see thee at home! I had thought thee had gone abroad.

No, too bitter. Not the best start for a helpful conversation about ways in which Elias might participate more in the work of the household, while delicately intimating that she knew he was going to the tavern when he said he was going to meeting but was prepared to ignore it as long as it didn’t happen again.

It was this business with Elma. It had shaken all of them.

But soon—within the month, Mr. Colden said—the case would go to trial, Levi would be hanged, and they could start again as they meant to go on, with all of this behind them.

Why, Elias! I had hoped thee might help me. The shutter in Mr. Lacey’s room is askew. . . .